Student showcase aims to get public to join the club

Members of Sussex Musical Theatre Society (SMUTS) in a production of West Side Story

Ever fancied learning some new dance moves, starring in a play or even indulging a passion for tea and cake?

University of Sussex students will be showcasing their talents for the public at Sussex Live at Brighton Corn Exchange this week (Thursday 20th and Friday 21st January 2011).

The event highlights the vast array of student societies run by the University of Sussex Students' Union - and members of the public will have the chance to join up and join in.

The 75 Students' Union societies cater for just about every interest there is, from art and acting to zombies. There are societies for environmental and political issues to Bollywood dance and community projects, along with a host of drama groups, choirs and bands waiting to welcome new members from the local community, helping to bring the city and the University closer together.

Following on from a successful Societies Festival last year, the Students' Union secured National Lottery funding to stage Sussex Live! in the centre of Brighton. Sussex Live! will feature performances from the drama society and the musical theatre society (who will perform extracts from their forthcoming production, Guys and Dolls); Glee-style songs from the Show Choir; live music from the Indian Society and swingin' tunes from the highly popular Big Band; breakdancing and street dance, as well as exhibitions from the Photography and Life Drawing societies.

There are lots of sports clubs for the active, including the highly successful Ultimate Frisbee Club (which has included world champions among its ranks).

If your tastes are more sedate, why not join the Tea and Cake Appreciation Society or Wine Club? There's also a ukulele society, a circus skills society, a magic society, a symphony orchestra society, groups for activists and campaigners and even a We Love 80s Hollywood Society.

Students' Union Activities Officer Scott Sheridan says: "The public has always been able to join our societies, but we thought we would like to publicise that fact more widely. It's a relatively cheap and sociable way to try out new activities, and to get to meet enthusiastic and like-minded people. We have so much on offer here at Sussex and we are keen that the local community gets involved."

Associate membership of the Students' Union costs £10 (£4 if you are a student elsewhere or not working). Once you have signed up, you can join one or more of the huge range of societies and clubs, from tea drinking to ultimate frisbee. Full details on how to join can be viewed at www.sussexstudent.com/societies

Entrance to Sussex Live! is £5 (£3 for the over-60s, under-14s, students and the unwaged), available through the USSU, Brighton Dome and Brighton music stores.